I'll Always Protect You

A/N: Yo, well you guys this is the last chapter! :D I bet you guys are happy this crap is over. I'm sure you guys are sick of it by now, eh…sorry if it was a disappointment. =(

Anyway please forgive the grammar and spelling mistakes. And there's no warnings in this one so read on happily carefree :D

Chapter 11

Hiyori was broken, her heart shattered and her soul grief stricken. She had lived through every memory Shinji had ever had, and not one of them was happy. Every memory she had witnessed was filled with pain and violence. She had slowly watched as Shinji died a little more inside during each memory. His eyes had slowly lost their life and his smile had disappeared completely as he grew older. There hadn't been a day in Shinji's life that either he or his mother weren't beaten senseless by his sorry excuse for a father. And there were too many memories of Shinji being sold away to stranger so his father could pay off gambling debts. And every time he was sold, he was horribly violated. But each time, he never shed a tear, and eventually he stopped fighting. He simply became a lifeless doll that only screamed when unbearable pain flooded through his system. Hiyori couldn't understand why Shinji had had the life he had. He had never done anything to deserve what he'd been through and she knew he never would. Hiyori floated through darkness and watched as she shed yet another tear for Shinji. The droplet of salty water floated through the air as well, shifting in the windless air. Her half lidded eyes shined brightly, though there was no light inside of this dark place. Only a blackness that Hiyori could only compare to Shinji's devastated heart. Hiyori was tired, she didn't want to see any more pain or suffering, she wouldn't be able to survive another nightmare that was Shinji's past. She only wanted peace, for him and her both.

~0~

As Urahara and the others continued to hold Grimmjow at bay, none of them noticed the solitary tear that slipped from Hiyori's right eye.

~0~

Hiyori opened her eyes and looked around confused. She was in a dark forest-it was thick and the trees and bushes huddled together, as if trying to escape a horrible chill in the air. However a feeling of familiarity passed through her; she couldn't place it, but knew she'd been here before. It was only when she heard the horrified screams that she remembered. This place was from a memory, it was the forest sounding Shinji's home. And those screams and the smell of smoke, it was from her dream. It was the burning house and woman, crying for the shadowed figure, the one eaten away by the flames. Hiyori knew where she was now, but….why…this had been a dream? When another set of screams echoed through the woods Hiyori ran toward them, racing down a path and to the orange glow just a few yards away. Flash stepping like never before she dashed through the woods and broke out of the forest, snapping branches and rustling leaves as she never bothered stopping. She knew where to go, she had to go back into the house and onto the back deck. She had to find the dying woman and the shadowed figure. She slid around a corner that lead into the middle of the house. One that she was now all too familiar with. It was like she had lived here her entire life, suddenly knowing every nook and cranny. Dashing out onto the back deck Hiyori watch as Shinji's mother was strangled by her husband. The man squeezing so hard his knuckles turned white. The woman reached out her hand, trying to grab something to far away. Hiyori remembered the pain that was now flooding the dying mother's eyes. Her gurgling was finally understandable.

"Sh-Shi-" She choked, her eyes growing dark. "Shin-j-i…."

Hiyori watched as the darkness in her eyes took over. The once beautiful brown orbs now like a lump of coal, black and cold. Her sons name was the last word to ever leave her mouth. Turning, Hiyori forgot her sadness for Shinji's mother. Now she filled with a sense of dread, she had made it to his finally memory of his human life. Now she had to save him.

~0~

Love grunted when Grimmjow smashed his sword against his, the force twice as strong as last time. The Espada was playing with them, having a bit of fun before going in for the kill. Urahara hadn't been lying, this man was easily as strong as the top three Espada they had fought back during the finally stand against Azien. Lisa had already been injured, her back sliced open with a shallow cut. Love only hoped they could hold off the Espada long enough for Hiyori and Shinji to come back.

~0~

Hiyori walked over to the shadowed corner, walking up the step and stalling. She looked into the corner; it was pitch black despite the flames all around her. Hiyori was shocked at the fear spreading through her, mostly because she was afraid of what she would find. But her stubbornness kicked in full force, and swallowing down her fear, sorrow, and anger she walked into the corner and froze. She wasn't at all shocked to find Shinji curled into the dark corner, staring on at the murder of his mother with wide, terrified eyes. But what she found truly shocking was the fact that Shinji was Shinji. He was his normal, tall, lanky self. His thin but strong frame was back along with his, to Hiyori's confusion, long blond hair. The strands were spilled across the floor in golden rivers that were perfectly even along with his bangs. Though this confused her, she was also thankful, for under his long, straight hair was nothing but his bare skin. She looked on as he watched his father now die, getting eaten by the flames. His screams of pain filling Hiyori with a satisfaction she's never felt before. Suppressing a grin of unsettling happiness Hiyori bent down in front of Shinji. Looking into his eyes she was frightened to see a reflection of his mothers. His eyes were black and dead-while a downpour of tears wet his cheeks. That and the soft rise and fall of his chest being the only indicators he was alive.

~0~

It had been several minutes since Hiyori had lost consciousness, and everyone was starting to wonder when she was going to come back, with Shinji in tow hopefully. Grimmjow's amusement of them was starting to fade and his attacks were getting more and more dangerous.

'Don't give in Hiyori-san; we're all counting on you. Especially Shinji-kun.' Urahara thought to himself, charging Grimmjow.

~0~

Hiyori was confused; she didn't know what she was supposed to do now. She had found Shinji, her real Shinji, but now what? Digging her fang into her lip she reached out, expecting her hand to go through him. However instead of fading through, her hand landed softly on the top of Shinji's head, his silken hair soft under her palm. For a reason she didn't understand, Hiyori felt a smile tug at her lips and a sudden flood of happiness shoot through her. Shinji was really here, solid as a rock and as real as herself. He was really there. Hiyori frowned though, Shinji hadn't responded, nor ever blinked when she had touched him. She lifted her hand away and peered into his dead eyes. Waving a hand in front of his face she spoke.

"Oi, Shinji!" She Said. "Shinji, wake up!" She said, her normal aggravated tone in place.

Still Shinji didn't respond, but only kept looking forward. Hiyori turned around and her mouth dropped. The memory was fading away now, his father and mothers charred bodies slowly disappearing. He couldn't have any memories after this, could he? He had died in the fire as well. Watching with unease Hiyori waited, then a memory began to form. Hiyori's eyes widened, it was the same one. Starting where Hiyori's dream had, with his father and mother fighting. He then pinned her to the ground and coked her. Hiyori turned back to Shinji with sad eyes. How long had he been watching his own parent's deaths?

"Shinji!" Hiyori barked, hoping to get a response. "Shinji come on, wake up!" She growled, growing angry out of her fear.

Hiyori looked on with Shinji as he stayed stock still, watching as his mother drew her last breath. Watched as his father laughed and started to beat on her limp body. Hiyori turned away from the scene, her mind unable to comprehend how someone could be so evil, so twisted.

"Shinji," Hiyori was yelling now, she couldn't keep this up, she'd seen enough death and heartache to last more than a thousand lifetimes. "Shinji, wake up you stupid asshole! You baldy, come on! I came here to get you out, Shinji!" Shinji still didn't respond.

Hiyori grabbed his shoulders and shook him roughly, his hair bouncing around, thin golden stands landing in front of his eyes.

"Come on Shinji! I'm so sick of takin' care of you! You're so sick all the time and you're always so quiet and you don't know us anymore! We're your family Shinji and you're terrified of us, you're not you Shinji…I don't want to do this anymore, I-I…." Hiyori dropped her head and heaved, her breath hard and heavy.

Her emotions were taking over again, destroying what little pride she had left. Shining orbs fell from Hiyori's shadowed face, the fire lighting them, making them resemble snow. Hiyori cried harshly, grief heavily lacing the sobs. She leaning her head against Shinji's chest, her hair tangling in his. She let her hand drop from his shoulders to his limp hands. She hesitantly entangled their fingers together.

"Shinji," She whimpered. "Shinji please come back…please…." Her please still fell on deaf ears. "Come on Shinji, it's me…Hiyori…..you said we'd always be together. You promised…"

Shinji blinked slowly, his big, chocolate brown eyes watching the newest memory appear.

~0~

Urahara growled when Grimmjow shot back his attack, the Espada's grin stretching widely as he shifted his gaze to Shinji's limp body. Play time was over.

~0~

Hiyori hadn't noticed when Shinji's memory changed until she heard her own voice. Turning she was shocked to see her and the others battling Kensei and Mashiro. Hachi pinned Mashiro with a spell while Kensei broke the kido holding him.

Hiyori looked back to Shinji, almost smiling when she saw his eyes. "Shinji…?" She asked softly.

"I…..I killed…..Hiyori….." Came an almost inaudible whisper.

Hiyori jumped away from Shinji's body, looking at him with raised eyebrows. New tears fell from Shinji's eyes as he watched the memory. Hiyori turned when she heard her voice again.

"Sh….Shin-ji….." She struggled out. "Le…et…..let…..m-me…..GGGGGOOOOOO!" She yelled, spiting up a fountain of white which quickly turned into a mask.

Hiyori watched as her own mask slashed Shinji through the chest. Turning back around she watched Shinji blink away tears. She didn't need to look when she heard to sound of the others begin their hollowfication. Shinji mumbled.

Hiyori placed her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about?" She said.

Shinji's eyes still stared only at the scene. "I killed…the most important person in my life…." He choked out.

Hiyori had never heard him so broken.

"I destroyed…the only family…..I ever had….every one of them…" Shinji softly sobbed. "I…..killed all of them…..and I….I…I killed Hiyori…"

Hiyori watched on in shock, unable to really reply to him. She noticed how he never said 'you' when speaking her name. …He still didn't know she was there, she'd only managed to jog his memory a little more. Hiyori though a moment…..that was it!

~0~

Love and Lisa went after Grimmjow together, dogging when he shot a cero at them. Jumping back they looked to Urahara when Kensei charged the blue haired man. The blond only shook his head, indicating that they needed to give Hiyori more time.

~0~

Hiyori dropped down to her knees and spoke, quick, but understandable. "Shinji, do you remember when I first became a soul reaper?" She said.

After waiting a long moment, Hiyori thought she'd been wrong. But then she turned with her usual satisfied grin. Playing before her was the memory of her induction ceremony. Hiyori thought of the next easiest memories.

"Shinji, remember when Rose became a captain, then we all went out that night and got drunk?" She said, turning and waiting.

Once again the memory shifted, first to a boring captains meeting, officializing Rose as a captain. Then it changed again, now a bar appeared and Shinji, Hiyori, Rose, Love, and the others were all there. Dunker than ever before. Hiyori looked back to Shinji, her usual, evil smile in place. On Shinji's face a small grin appeared at the happy memory.

"Remember when I kicked you in the face and through the fourth divisions doors?" She said, trying not to laugh at the annoyed glare now donning Shinji's face.

Hiyori watched as Shinji went flying through the door, scaring everyone on the other said as he yelled at Hiyori, who was grinning wildly. Hiyori looked back to Shinji, watching him blink some more, his body beginning to move.

Thinking of more memories she grinned widely. "Remember when you and I blew up the training ground under the warehouse and had to have Hachi fix it?"

Once again the memory Hiyori reminded him of appeared and she smiled. Thinking hard she remember a pranking spree Mashiro had gone through in which everyone in the warehouse had fallen victim.

"Remember when Mashiro went through the warehouse for days pranking all of us?" She said, turning and watching the memory.

~0~

Lisa grunted in pain when she was slammed into the ground. She heard a distinct 'Snap' and knew her arm was broken. Growling she got up and picked up her sword with her good arm.

~0~

Hiyori had gone through memory after memory she could think of and still Shinji was trapped in his own mind. She was running out of time, knowing she had been in there too long.

~0~

Love's legs buckled under the pressure Grimmjow was putting on him. He sent a quick kick to Love's head and sent him flying into a building close by.

~0~

Scowling she grabbed her sandal off her foot. This was taking too long and maybe, just maybe this would give Shinji the push he needed. Throwing her arm back as far as it would go, she swung it forward and listened to the ear shattering smack it made when it connected with Shinji's face.

"Snap out of it dumbass!" She snarled.

~0~

Urahara growled, he'd given Hiyori all the time he would dare. He'd hoped putting pressure on her by letting Grimmjow get this far would speed the process up and also act as a lure back to her own body. But he had been proven otherwise. He's couldn't risk letting the others become gravely wounded over this. Pulling back Benihime he watched as Kensei fell to the ground, the fist that had embedded itself into his gut dropping him to his knees. Urahara walked too Hiyori and Shinji's still lifeless bodies, stopping in front of them. Grimmjow sneered.

"You think you're gonna stop me old man?" He barked, charging Urahara at full speed.

Urahara prepared to block the oncoming attack. In a burst of blue and with an explosion of dust and debris, swords clashed.

"Na….ol' Kisuke ain't the type…"

Grimmjow cocked a brow, watching as the dust cleared.

"But I am." Shinji said, planting his foot into Grimmjow's chest and sending him flying.

When Grimmjow finally hit the ground it buckled underneath him, a huge hole forming. Hiyori coughed, opening her eyes slowly. She felt like she had died and come back. Looking around with exhausted eyes she spotted a grinning Urahara.

"What the hell are you smilin' at?" She growled, struggling to her feet.

"Oh, just Shinji-kun." He said, pointing in front of Hiyori and himself.

Hiyori turned sharply, a smile consuming her face despite trying to stop it. There Shinji stood, proud, tall, and very pissed off. His sword was clutched in his hand and excited for battle. His long, blond hair whipped around him as a rough wind started blowing. She was grateful to whoever had dressed Shinji while she had been away at Urahara's shop earlier. The oversized shirt he had been wearing while still a child was still far too big on him. His modesty thankfully fully covered. Hiyori cocked a brow and looked to Urahara.

"Where'd he get his sword?" She asked, though adrenaline was coursing through her system her voice was still tired.

"I decided to take it with me when I stumbled apon it while fighting in the warehouse." He said lazily. "You should sit down Hiyori-san, you're very weak right now and don't need to strain yourself."

She sent him a death glare, her pride now fully restored. "Bite me." She said, about to unsheathe her sword.

"Sit down ya idiot." Shinji said, looking back to her.

Growling, Hiyori stuck her tongue out at him. "Make me badly!"

Shinji's eye twitched. "What?"

"Ya' heard me you stupid badly!" Hiyori said, an evil grin on her face.

"You little-" Shinji was cut off when Hiyori suddenly pulled his hair.

It was like she was trying to rip it out.

"You little brat, let go!" He barked, smashing his hand into her face-but Hiyori didn't let go.

Urahara couldn't help but laugh at the two and their sudden disregard for the very dangerous situation at hand.

"We're going to die…" Lisa said, her voice monotone as she sat down.

"Just because those two are happy to see each other." Kensei added, following Lisa's lead.

"Well that's fantastic." Love chipped in, also sitting down.

Urahara laughed. "Now, now, have faith in your comrades." He smiled.

The other Vizards smiled. However when they heard Grimmjow all of happy faces changed. Hiyori and Shinji let go of each other and everyone felt Shinji's spirit pressure rise suffocatingly high. They could all sense his rage and it put them on edge. Placing his hand in front of his face, Shinji's mask appeared and everyone heard Grimmjow laugh.

"Now that's better," He cackled, spitting out a mouth full of blood while wiping more from his head. "You're the one I've wanted to see." He growled, lunging at Shinji.

"Shinji…" Hiyori said, never happier to finally have to look up to Shinji and notdown.

He glanced down at her and winked, then dashed toward Grimmjow. Hiyori watched as their swords clashed, and how Shinji didn't hold back. She could feel his rage and hate, along with everyone else for that matter. It was over powering and had all a little nervous. All expect for Hiyori, who could only understand it. She watched as Shinji fought Grimmjow, slashing him across the chest deeply. Blood shot out, red ribbons flying off Shinji's sword as he swung it forward again. Grimmjow blocked, but was throw back a good distance only to find Shinji zooming up at him from below. The Espada dodged a fatal blow, but managed to get his leg halfway cut off. Blood poured from the wound and splashed to the ground far below. Shinji attacked Grimmjow hard, not giving him a chance to release Pantera. Their fight continued on for a long while, Shinji's mask eventually fading away. And in that time Grimmjow had only managed to slightly nick Shinji's cheek. The longer the battle lasted; Hiyori and the others noted how Shinji's reiatsu got heaver and angrier. However they noted how his face never changed from its bored expression.

"How dare you," Shinji said, his voice eerily calm.

Grimmjow cocked a brow. "Eh?" He said, grunting when he managed to block Shinji's attack.

"How dare you come to my home and attack us….." He said, a lazily expression on his face.

He added more pressure on Grimmjow's blade. "How dare you attack my family." He said and his cheshire grin spilt his lips.

A cero formed in his hand and right in front of Grimmjow's head.

The blue haired Espada drew his blade back and went for a clean cut of Shinji's hand. But he stalled, his eyes growing wide as a pain shot through his heart. Hiyori and the others watched on in shock. Grimmjow looked down when a warm sensation ran down his back and chest. He watched as Shinji slowly and almost gently pulled the blade out of his heart, the metal red instead of shining silver. The cero faded away and Grimmjow started falling. His mind instantly shot back to his fight with Ichigo in Hueco Mundo. And just the same as then, Shinji reached down and grabbed his wrist, keeping him from smashing into the ground below. Slowly Shinji lowered them to the ground, softly laying Grimmjow down and releasing his arm. The blue haired Espada shot him a glare of annoyance. Shinji grinned widely.

"Don't ya worry your little blue head off Espada; it ain't pity, just respect for a powerful opponent."

Grimmjow grunted, his irritation fading away into curiosity. "What did you mean?" He asked, blood coating the inside of his mouth.

Shinji cocked a brow. "What'cha' mean?" He asked, wiping his blade clean on his oversized shirt.

"When you…." Grimmjow struggled for breath. "When you said how dare I attack your family." He huffed, his eyes falling halfway shut. "Why's it matter?"

Shinji's expression turned sad and his spirit pressure lowered. "I made them a promise." Shinji said. "That I wouldn't ever let anything happen to them-"

Grimmjow cut him off with a laugh. "Please you stupid fuck, that's a ridiculous promise." He said, his eyes growing dim.

"Whys that?" Shinji asked, bending down beside Grimmjow.

A look passed over the Espada's face, however it was there and gone too fast for Shinji to know what it was. Blood ran from his mouth and down his neck, pooling on the ground.

"Because…. you can't protect s-something forever. Eventually…it will fall, and….. you'll go with it." Grimmjow said, his voice growing softer with each word he said.

Before Shinji could respond, Grmmjow's eyes went dark and his chest stood still. The blond haired man sighed and brushed his hand down Grimmjow's face, closing his dead eyes. Standing up and looking down as the Espada's body slowly started to fade away-he spoke.

"I promised them that I would never let anything happen to them….ever again." Shinji said softly, watching as Grimmjow's body disappeared.

He looked up when he heard Hiyori yell a handful of profanities at him. Then he started to her, growing nervous at the evil little grin on her face that showed her fang.

A/N: Well that's it! All the chapters anyway, I'm gonna post an epilogue. But other than that, this story is finished. Please don't hate me for killing Grimmjow! D:

But please, once again, forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes. Very sorry for missing them.